Recently, I have been developing training and assessment resources for the TAESS00026 Foundation Skills Integration Skill Set. This skill set consists of three units of competency:
TAELLN421 Integrate core skills support into training and assessment
TAELLN423 Integrate employability skills support into training and assessment
TAELLN422 Use foundation skills resources, strategies and advice.
The following are the ‘Application’ statements for these three units.
At first glance, there seems to some common topics between the three units, and overlapping topics between ‘TAELLN421 Integrate core skills support into training and assessment’ and ‘TAELLN423 Integrate employability skills support into training and assessment’.
Exploring alignment
A practical way to explore the alignment between the three units is to place information about each unit beside each other. The following shows the there ‘Application’ statements in a 3-column table.
In the following table, key topics have been highlighted and different colours have been used to identify alignment.
Writing learning objectives
First, I identified three overlapping topics between ‘TAELLN421 Integrate core skills support into training and assessment’ and ‘TAELLN423 Integrate employability skills support into training and assessment’
The next step was to simplify the convoluted terminology and add some extra details extracted from performance criteria, in particular from ‘TAELLN422 Use foundation skills resources, strategies and advice’.
I thought that having five objectives with two sub-objectives was less overwhelming and easier to communicate than seven objectives
I think these learning objectives capture the essence of the training program. Also, I think these learning objectives gives a clear direction to be understood by learners when they commence the ‘TAESS00026 Foundation Skills Integration Skill Set’ training course.
What do you think?
Conclusion
Writing and communicating learning objectives for an entire training course is requires a different approach to learning objectives for a training session. In this article, I have demonstrated an approach that I have used recently to write learning objectives for an entire training course.
The 2025 Training Package Organising Framework has replaced the 2012 Standards for Training Packages. The 2025 Training Package Organising Framework makes a significant change regarding Foundation Skills:
The definition of Foundation Skills has changed, and
The information about Foundation Skills has changed.
The definition of Foundation Skills has changed
The 2012 Standards for Training Packages required Foundation Skills to be documented at the Unit of Competency level. Also, the 2012 Standards for Training Packages clearly defined Foundation Skills as the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills. [1]
Training Package developers described Foundation Skills that specifically related to the Unit of Competency. For example, the following shows the Foundation Skills that have been specified for the BSBSUS211 Participate in sustainable work practices unit.
In the above example it describes three language, literacy and numeracy skills and several employment skills (teamwork, initiative and enterprise, self-management, and technology). This information about Foundation Skills will no longer be required at the Unit of Competency level. Also, this detailed information about Foundation Skills that specifically relates to the Unit of Competency will no longer be provided.
The 2025 Training Package Organising Framework makes a significant change to Foundation Skills. Instead of specifying Foundation Skills at the Unit of Competency level, Foundation Skills are to be specified within the Qualification or Skill Set. However, a Training Package developer may document Foundation Skills for a Unit of Competency that is a standalone unit or has high delivery as a single unit. [2]
A standalone unit is defined as a unit that is not packaged as part of a qualification. Previously, all units had to be packaged as part of a qualification. This requirement has changed. [2]
An example of a single unit with high delivery is First Aid. [2]
The 2025 Training Package Organising Framework redefines Foundations Skills. Foundation Skills are now defined as the five Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) skills: [2] [3]
Learning skills
Reading skills
Writing skills
Oral communication skills
Numeracy skills.
Specifying digital literacy skills is optional. [2]
The information about Foundation Skills has changed
The 2025 Training Package Organising Framework require Foundation Skills to be specified within the Qualification or Skill Set. The Training Package developer may document Foundation Skills within a Unit of Competency that is a standalone unit or has high delivery as a single unit, but this is optional. [2]
Importantly, the information about Foundation Skills provided by Training Package developers has changed. Instead of providing detailed information about relevant Foundation Skills for a Unit of Competency, the Training Package developers will state the required ACSF level for each of the five Core Skill from the ACSF and display this information as a bar chart for qualifications and skill sets. For example: [2]
Specifying digital literacy skills is optional. The Training Package developer may specify digital literacy skills as a descriptive statement below the Foundation Skills bar chart. [2]
The following table compares pre-2025 Foundation Skills and post-2025 Foundation Skills.
I hope the last row in the above table clearly shows how information about Foundation Skills provided by Training Package developers are significantly changing.
In conclusion
Units of Competency are the building blocks for Qualifications and Skill Sets. Each Unit of Competency has its own unique foundation skill requirements. The Foundation Skills bar chart for a Qualification or Skill Set provides no information relevant to foundation skills required to perform work tasks covered by any particular Unit of Competency.
When the 2012 Standards for Training were implemented many people complained about losing useful Range Statement information. As the 2025 Training Package Organising Framework are implemented, I wonder if people are going to complain about losing useful Foundation Skills information.
“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”
References
[1] 2012 Standards for Training Packages (last updated in 2022)
[2] 2025 Training Package Organising Framework
[3] Australian Core Skills Framework
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